Two young men abducted in Bomet missing weeks on

Protesters in Kenya take part as they participate in a protests againsts increasing Adductions in Kenya on December,30th,2024 in the street of Nairobi. Aga khan walk. Police use teargas to disperse peaceful protesters and several are arrested, the protesters have chained themselves together and refused to disperse [John Muchucha, Standard]

Two youths from Bomet County who were allegedly abducted under unclear circumstances on December 5 last year are still missing.

Chepalungu MP Victor Koech says Hillary Munge and Elvis Chepkosa were seized at Mai Mahiu on their way to Nairobi.

Mr Koech has blamed the disappearance of the two on security agencies. The lawmaker says security officers  should not continue illegally abducting and detaining  citizens as this undermines the right to freedom of expression and movement as enshrined in the Constitution.

“Today as we speak, two youths from my constituency are nowhere to be found. They are being held by security agencies in unknown police stations without being taken through the normal judicial process. This is very unfortunate and we demand their immediate release,” the MP said.

Koech added that if the State machinery had anything against the duo, they should be brought to court to face charges. He said holding suspects without trial is against the Constitution. 

In the recent past, the country has witnessed an unprecedented wave of abductions targeting various individuals, with majority of the victims being young people. 

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has expressed concern over the alarming rise in abductions, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings across the country.                                                  

The commission recorded 13 abduction cases in the last three months alone, bringing to 82 the total number of abductions it noted since June last year.

At least 29 are still missing.

Seven of the enforced disappearances were reported in December last year.

The National Police Service has denied involvement.

Over 60 people were killed in the June-July protests, according to KNCHR, and the police force has kept attempting to absolve itself from blame for the fatalities.